Spool structure



May .2, 1939. G. G. TUCKER. JR 2,156,363

SPOOL STRUCTURE Filed June 6, 1958 EVFTM GEORGE C. TUCKER JR.

I named Ms- 2, 193a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I George G. Tucker, Jr., Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Hubbard Spool Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 6, 1938, Serial No. 212,003 8 Claims. (oi. 242-123),

My invention relates to spoolssuch as spools for supporting wire, the general obiectbein'g to produce a spool constructed in greater part of comparatively light sheet metal partswhich may be economically manufactured and assembled to F form a rigid and strong structure. I More in detail, an important object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal barrel'structure comprising, a number of segments having -their longitudinal edge portions deflected to form' hook flanges to be locked together by tie bars which may he slid through the flange hooks so that the segmentswill be held together to form a cylindrical barrel structure.

A further object is to provide heads for the barrel structure throughwhich the ends of the. segment tie bars may extend to serve as rivets for clamping the heads to the barrel.

Another important object is to provide circular go plates on the insides of the heads offset therefrom along their peripheral portions to receive radially extending flanges at the ends of the barrel-segments for alignment of the segments pre-' paratory to the sliding of the tie bars for engage- 5 ment with the segment hook flanges.

The above enumerated and other features of the invention are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawing, in which drawing:

Figure l is, an end view of a spool with the body of one of the heads broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section on line 11-11 of Figure l; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the sectional part of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section view like "Figure 3 but showing a modified arrangement; and

Figure 5 is a section on plane V-V of Figure 3. As shown, the barrel structure comprises a number of sheet metal segments l0, three such segments being shown. The longitudinal edge portions of 'the segments are deflected inwardly to form hook flanges I I engageable by tie bars I2. These tie bars may be of suitable form, those shown being cylindrical tubes having'the longi tudinal slits of gaps l3. These tie bars are applied with the edges adjacent their gaps engaging the segment flange hooks so that the segments are secured together to forma cylindrical barrel.

The heads H for the spool may each be a single disk of metal or non-metallic material, or as shown these heads may comprise a number of disks or laminations. Each head has secured to its inner side, concentric therewith, a circular plate I5 whose peripheral portion I5 is oifset inwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the metal'of the barrel segments in order to provide the annular space or pocket l6 between the deflected portion and the head it. The plates 1 5 are secured to the heads I as by means of rivets ll, and the plates have central openings the metal around whichis deflected outwardly to form bushing flanges It for extending into the openings I9 in the heads l4, these bushing flanges serving to receive arbors on which the spool is mounted during winding or unwinding thereof. 1 The plates l5 mayalso be strengthened or stiffened by inwardly extending peripheral flanges 20.

The offset portion ii of the plate I5 is cut away to leave passageways 2| therethrough for the ends of the tie bars I2, and the heads it have ll the passageways 22 therethrough for receiving the tie bars.

At their ends, and between their hook flanges, the barrel segments Ill are deflected radially inwardly to form flanges or tongues 23. When the an spool is to be assembled, thesegments are applied to the head structures by slipping the flanges or'tongues 23 into the pockets or spaces It provided by the deflected plate portions [5, the segment bodies then resting against'the peg5 ripheral flanges 20 of the plates l5 and with their adjacent hook flanges in abutting engagement. This assembly is made so that the flange hooks l I will be in alignment-with the passageways 2| and 22 of the plates and heads respectively so that the tie bars l2 maybe inserted through these passageways at one end of the spool. These tie bars will then lock together the adjacent hook flanges of the barrel segments, the bars being of sumcient length to extend a short distance beyond '8 the heads at each end of the spool. These projecting ends are then deflected radially outwardly against the outer faces of the heads so that the tie bars may serve also as rivetsfor intimately and securely clamping the heads to the barrel 40 structure, the flanges 23 at the ends of the barrel segments providing adequate seating surface for the heads.

Instead of using separate rivets as shown in- Flgures 1, 2, and 3, tongues 24 may be deflected '45 from the plates IE to be extended through passages 25 in the heads, Figure 4, and to be deflected over against the outer faces of the heads to thus function as rivets for securing the plates to the heads. 0

The various elements of the spool maybe economically manufactured and readily assembled. The head structures are first assembled by securing the plates l5to the head disks l4, and the segments in are applied'to the heads by slipping u their flanges or tongues 23 into the recess between the plates I5 and the head disk. and then' the tie bars are inserted and slipped over the hook flanges of the segments, and the ends of the tie bars are then deflected overunder pressure so that the barrel and head structures are rigidly secured together to form a strong, durable, yet comparatively light spool. 3

I have shown a practical and emcient embodiment of the features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the'invention.

I claim as follows:

l. A spool comprising a cylindrical barrel composed of segments having inwardly extending hook flanges at their longitudinal edges, tie bars engaging the hook flanges of adjacent segments to secure the segments circumferentially together in abutting engagement to form the cylindrical barrel, and head structures secured to the barrel ends.

'2. Aspool comprising a barrel composed of longitudinally extending segmental plates having inwardly extending hook-flanges at their longitudinal edges, tie bars engaging adjacent hook flanges'to secure the segments together to form a cylindrical barrel, head structures for the spool having openings for receiving the ends of said tie bars, and means securing, the tie bar ends to the head structures to secure the" head structures against the barrel ends.

'3. A sp'ool comprising a number of longitudinally extending segmental plates forming a cylindrical barrel, inwardly extending tongues at the longitudinal edges of said plates, locking members slipped over said tongues for locking said plates together circumferentially. into abutting engagement,- heads for the spool and interengaging walls on saidheads andthe barrel ends for concentrically aligning said heads and barrel and securing them axially together.

4. A'spool comprising a number of longitudinally extending segments forming a cylindrical barrel, the longitudinally extending edge por tions of said segments being deflected inwardly to form hooks, tie bars of substantially C-shape In" cross section engaging said hooks to tie the segments together circumferentially, heads for the spool having passageways for the ends of 'said'tie bars, said tie bars at their outer ends masses being deflected outwardly against the outer sides of the heads whereby said bars function as rivets to lock the heads and segments axially together.

5. A spool comprising a barrel structure and heads therefor, said heads having plates secured to their inner sides concentriotherewith and with their peripheral portions offset from the heads to provide annular recesses, said barrel structure comprising a number of longitudinally extendlng segments having radial flanges at their ends for engaging in the annular recesses between the heads and the platesthereon, and common means circumferentially securing said barrel segments together and securing said heads and segments together axially.

6. A spool comprising a barrel structure and head structures, means on each head structure 7 tending through said head structures and having interlocking engagement with said barrel segments to lock said segments together circumferentially, said tie bars being'deflected at their outer endsagainst said heads for securing said heads and barrel structures together axially.

7.. A spool comprising heads each having a plate on. its inner side concentric therewith with its outer peripheral portion spaced inwardly therefrom to define an-annular narrow recess, a plurality of segmental plates having radially inwardly extending flanges engaging in the recesses of said heads with their longitudinal edges abutting to form a cylindrical barrel secured to said heads concentric therewith, and means within said barrel holding said segments together circumferentially.

8. A spool comprising a number of longitudinally extending barrel forming segments, inwardly extending flanges along the abutting edges of said segments, hollow tie bars slitted to receive said flanges to thereby secure said segments together circumierentially to form a continuous barrel, spool heads, and means whereby said tie bars secure said heads to the barrel ends.

GEORGE G. TUCKER, JR. 

